Method of making packages provided with tearing strips



Jun'eZ, 1942.. E, F CQRNQCK I 2,285,189

METHOD OF MAKING PACKAGES PROVIDED WITH TEARiNG STRIPS Filed Dec. 10, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheei 1 I NVENTOR Z'IbWAJwEComcK BY r 7 Arm svs June 2, 1942. I E. F. cdRN'ocK METHOD OF MAKING PACKAGES PROVIDED WITH TEARI NG STRIPS Filed Dec. 10, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR ZbImRaFCozmocx ATI' RNEYS remainder of to the package. If the wrapper is of the usual Patented June 4 1 UNITED STATES PATENT." OFFICE. g

METHOD 0F 1 MAKING PACKAGES PROVIDED.

. WITH TEABING STRIPS 7 Edward F. Cornock, Springfield, Masa, assignor to Package Machinery Company, Springfield,

Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 1c, 1940, Serial'No. 369,382

(or as-z) t v a claims. In the wrapping of articles it is customary to include a tearing strip within the wrapper to facilitate the removal of all or a portion of .the wrapper.

moved the introduction of the tearing strip is not in general difficult since its location is not critical. In certain cases, however, it is desired to remove only a small fraction of the wrapper to permit access to the contents, and to leave the the wrapper in place as a protection type which is folded; first circumferentially about the article and then into overlying flaps upon the top and slight difficulty in applying the tearing strip, since it can be located as close to the top as desired and still have its end project from between the overlapping ends of the circumferential folds. In the wrapping of articles in socalled die-folded wrappers, however, where the portion of the wrapper to be torn oil is one of the folded sides adjacent the final folds, there has previously been tearing strip as to leave a pouch intact upon the article and at the 'same'time to have the torn bottom of the article there is again Where the entire wrapper is to be rep in accordance with one form of the inventioni and Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive are similar views illustrating successive steps in accordance with a second modification.

Prior to the start of the folding operation a tearing strip II is secured to the wrapper [2, preferably in a manner fully described in the patent to Melhorn 1,965,524. In the case illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 the tearing stripis permitted to extend beyond the wrapper at that side which is to be the first to be folded against the last-closed sideof the article, while in Figs. 6

to 10 it projects from the end of the wrapper which is the last to be folded againstthi's side. This makes but minor differences in the performance of the method as will be disclosed below. The tearing strip: is adherently secured to the wrapper and projects beyond it as at [3' adno method of so locating the line located close to that side of .the package which is to be exposed. I

In the making of a die-folded package the wrapper is first folded over one side and two adjacent faces of the article, with'a sufficient marginal excess of the wrapper projecting beyond two faces to provide material for forming overlapping folds upon the remaining three article sides. The margins of the wrapper are then folded upon the top and bottom of the article, as the two faces adjacent the three initial faces may be called for convenience and without limiting the article to any specific position. The wrapper is finally. folded down upon the second side of the article, that is to say the one oppo-' site that with which the wrapper first made 0011-.

tact. It is the purpose of the present invention to locate a tearing strip close to the top of the article, and to fold the wrapper upon the second side so that the exposed end of the tearing strip will not be buried in the folds and will be in a a position so that the wrapper may be. torn without danger of breaki ng the tearing strip due to being refolded on an angle among the overlapping fiaps of the wrapper. The manner in which this is accomplished can bev understood best by reference to the accompanying drawings, in

which,

Figs. 1 to 5 are perspective views illustrating successive steps in the pping of an article jacent this projecting end. The wrapper has a preferably semi-circular notch M and generally has a corresponding projection l5 at the opposite end. Regarding this projection'the, tearing strip is out along a preferably diagonal line l6 which is located-so as to bring the end of the tearing strip adjacent one of the triangular folds to be made later. I

. With the-wrapper and tearing strip thus prepared, the wrapper is brought against one side of the article as in Fig.1. This will hereinafter be spoken of as the first side. The wrapper is then folded over against the two faces of the article which lie adjacent this side and the marginal portions ofthe wrapper are folded down with a preliminary tuck l1 and with overlapping folds i8 and is as indicated in Fig. 2. The faces 7 against which these folds are made will be referred to as the top and bottom of the article, the former being the one near which the tearing strip is located. These terms are used for convenience and not as limiting the invention to any particular position of the article either during wrapping or in use. This brings the wrapper to a pouch-like form having a tubular extension beyond the second side of the article and with the end l3 of the tearing strip projecting beyond this extension. It should be noted that the marginal excess of the wrapper necessary to produce the flaps l8 and I9 is similar to the marginal excess of the tubular extension necessary to form the flaps against the second side of the article, and to this extent governs the type of flaps which will be formed there. It is one of the features of the present invention that it permits the tearing strip to be located closer tothe top of the article than a distance represented by this marginal extent. In former methods the tearingstrip could not be located close to the adjacent sideof the article thanthe width of the flaps to be made against that side last to be closed in. Y

The next operation is .the'formation of tucks 23 and 2| against'the'second side of the article.

Tuck 2| may be made as usual, that is to say,

the full width of that side of the article; but tuck from the second face-of the article is formed into trapezoidal flap formation 24 in the usual way. The trapezoidal flap 25 is folded over first as indicated in Fig. 4, care being taken to exert pressure on the triangular portion 22 in such a manner as to roll it toward the adjacent article comer and thus to bring its folded edge 26 substantially into parallelism therewith. In general the.'fold '28 will terminate at the edge of 23 must be handled in a special manner. 'The lie outside of the slit :0. In this construction the flap 33 outside of the tearing strip is not anchored as firmly as in the forms shown in Figs.

-1 to 5 and for this reason the slit 3| is preferably added, since the tearing strip would otherwise tend to pull the flap 33 away from the inner flap 31 without starting a tear.

In either of the constructions shown the tearing strip is brought close to the adjacent edgeof the article and at the same time its projecting portion extends from the body of the stripin a perfectly straight line'having no reverse bends which might cause breakage of the strip itself when the package is being opened. While the specific forms shown its general character will be the tearing strip. The tearing strip is thus brdught up underneath the mm 24. and in order to avoid striking it is preferably folded at right angles to itself along a line 21. When the flap 24 is finally turned down into place the package is in the form shown in Fig. 5.- By having the flap 22 rolled outwardly as shown and the opposite comer flap 21' made in the normal manner by folding the tuck." tightly against flap 24, the

tearing strip will be brought out at a pointwhich is nearer the corner of the article than the slanting flap 21'. This is convenient, as the tearing strip is left free to start a tear without having to be first overlying fiap 24. 1

The operation in the second form of the method is somewhahsimilar, the tearing strip being attached in substantially the same manner, but

pulled out from underneaththe in this case a slit 30 is made closely adjacent to it on the outside. A second shorter slit 3| is preferably also made in the wrapper just on the inside of the tearing-strip. ,The' length of the slit 3. is of considerable importance as will appearbelow, and is preferably chosen so as to be less in length by an amount 32 than the distance from the end of the wrapper to the line 33 along which the wrapper is to be folded upon the second ,end of the article. The operation of folding the wrapper into package form is carried on as before and is illustrated in Fig. '7 with the distinction that in-this case the projecting end 34 of the tearing strip is here shown as extending from the opposite side of the package 'from that indicated in Fig. 2. In the folding of the wrap-'- per against the second end of the article the.

rolled flap 22is not employed, the tuck 35 car- 'rying in the entire side portion of the wrapper outside of the slit 30 and laying this against the end of the article with the exception of a small triangular connecting flap 36 that is formed by invention is not limited in its details to the two apparent from the following claims. I

I claim:

1. A method of forming a wrapped article hav. ing a tearing strip located to remove the folded top of the wrapper while leaving the remainder of the wrapper in pouch form on the article; which comprises foldingv against oneside and two adjacent faces-of an article a wrapper having sufficient marginal excess to form overlapping folds on the opposite side andon the top and bottom of the article, said wrapper having afiixed to its inner. surface a tearing strip positioned to extend across a first side and the two faces of the artiole at a distance from the top of the article less than .the marginal excess of the wrapper and to project from the first face beyond one end of the wrapper, folding and securing the wrapper in overlapping folds upon the top and bottom of the article and thus forming a tubular wrapper extension beyond. the second side of the article, tucking those portions of the wrapper extension adjacent the top and bottom of the article against the second side toform opposed flaps extending from both faces of the article with the tuck adjacent the top folded unsymmetrically to bring the lateral outer corner of that flap including the'projecting end of the tearing strip outside the tearing strip and to bring the lateral outer comer of the opposite flap inside the line of the tearing strip, and folding and securing said flaps inoverlapping relation upon said second side of the article. I

2. A method of forming a wrapped article having a tearing strip located to remove the folded top of the wrapper while leaving the remainder of the wrapper in pouch form on the article, which comprises folding against one side and two adjacent faces of an article a wrapper having. suflicient marginal excess to form overlapv ping folds on the opposite side and on the top reason of the distance 32 between the end of the slit and the full line 33. The fiap 31 is then folded against the article and finally the flap 38, bringing the article into the condition of Fig. 10.

The tearing strip is thus permitted to lie closely adjacentthe top of the article by reasonof the fact that its end 34 is not buried in any 'inturned folds of the wrapper since these folds-must all and bottom of the article, said wrapper having aflixed to its inner surface a tearing strip positioned to extend across a first side and the two faces of the article at a distance from thetop of the article less than the marginal'excess of the wrapper and to project from the first face beyond one-end of. the wrapper, folding and securing the wrapper in overlapping foldsupon the top .and bottom of the article and thus forming a tubular wrapper extension beyond the second side of the article, tucking those portions of the wrapper extension adjacent the top and bottom of the article against the second side toform opposed fiaps extending from both faces of the article with the tuck adjacent the top folded unymmetrically to bring the lateral outer corner of that flap including the projecting end of the flap inside the line of the tearing strip, folding ond side of the article in overlapping relation to the first-folded flap. 1

3. A method of forming a wrapped article having a tearing strip located to remove'the folded top of the wrapper while leaving .the remainder of the wrapper in pouch form on the article,

which comprises folding against one side and two adjacent faces of anarticle a wrapper having sufficient marginal excess to form overlapping folds on the opposite side and on the top and bottom of the article, said wrapper having affixed to its inner surface a tearing strip positioned to extend across a first side and'the two faces ofthe article at a distance from the top of the article less than the marginal excess of the wrapper'and to project from theflrst face beyond one end of the wrapper, folding and securing the wrapper in overlapping folds upon the top and bottom of the article and thus forming a tubular wrapper extension beyond the second side of the article, tucking those portions of the wrapper extension adjacent the top and bottom of the article against the second side to form opposed flaps extending fromboth faces of the article with the tuck adjacent the top folded loosely adjacent the projecting end of the tearing strip and folded tightly adjacent theface opposite thereto, and folding and securing said flaps in overlapping relationupon said second side of the article. i

4. A method of forming a wrappedarticle having a tearing strip located to remove the folded top of the wrapper while leaving the remainder of the wrapper in pouch form on the article,

which comprises folding against one side and ing sufficient marginal excess to form overlapping folds on the opposite side and on the top and bottom of the article, said wrapper having affixed to its inner surface a tearing strip positioned to extend across a firstside and the two faces of the article at a distance from the top of the article less than the marginal excess of the wrapper and to project from the first face beyond one end of the wrapper, folding and securing the wrapper in overlapping folds upon the top and bottom of the article and thus forming a tubular wrapper extension beyond the second side of a the article, tucking those portions of the wrapper extension adjacent the top and bottom of the article against the second side to form opposed flaps extending from both faces of the article with the tuck adjacent the top folded loosely on the side adjacent the tearing strip, and folding and securing said flaps in overlapping relation upon said second side of the article while rolling said loosely folded flap towards the top of the article to cause the inner ply of said na to cross the tearing strip within the boundary of the flap.

6. A method of forming a wrapped article having a tearing strip located to remove the folded top of the wrapper while leaving the remainder of the wrapper in pouch form on the article, which comprises folding against one side and two adjacent faces of an article a wrapper havingsufficient marginal excess to form overlapping folds on the opposite side and on the top and bottom of the article, said wrapper having affixed to its inner surface a tearing strip positioned to extend across a first side and the two faces'of the article at a distance from the top of the article less than the marginal excess of the wrapper and to project from thefirst face beyond one end of the wrapper, folding and securing the wrapper in overlapping folds upon two adjacent faces of an article a wrapper having sufi'icientmarginal excess to form overlapping folds on the opposite side and'on the top and bottom of the article, said wrapperhaving 'aflixed to its inner surface a tearing strip positioned to extend across a first side and the two faces of the article at a distance from the top of the article less than the marginal excess of the wrapper and to project from the first face beyond one end of the wrapper, folding and securing the wrapper in overlapping folds upon the top and bottom of the article and thus forming a tubular wrapper extension beyond the second side of the article, tucking those portions of the wrapper extension adjacent the top and bottom of the article against the second side to form opposed fiaps extending from-both faces of the article with the tuck adjacent the top folded loose: ly adjacent the projecting end of the tearin strip and folded tightly adjacent the face opposite thereto, folding that flap including the projecting part 'of the tearing strip against the second side of the article, folding the projecting end of the tearing strip at right angles to itself to cause it to project beyond the top of the article, and folding and securing the opposite flap against the second side of the article in overlapping relation to the first-folded flap.

5. A method of forming a wrapped article having a tearing striplocated to remove the folded top of the wrapper while leavingthe remainder of the wrapper in pouch form on the article,

the top and bottom of the article and thus forming a tubular wrapper extension beyond the second side of the article, tucking those portions'of the wrapper extension adjacent the top and bottom of the article against the second side to form opposed flaps extending from both faces of the article with the tuck adjacent the top folded loosely adjacent the tearing strip, folding the flap bearing the tearing strip against the second side of the article while rolling said loosely folded flap towards the top of the article to cause the inner ply of said flap to cross the tearing strip within the boundary of the flap, folding the projecting end of the tearing strip at right angles to itself to cause it to project beyond the top of thearticle, and folding and securing the opposite flap against the second side of the article in overlapping relation to the first-folded flap.

, '7. A method of forming a wrapped article having a tearing strip located to remove. the folded top of the wrapper while leaving the remainder of the wrapper in pouch form on the article, Vwhich comprises folding adjacent, one side and positioned to extend across the first side and the two faces of the article at a distance from the top of the article less than the marginal excess of the wrapper andto project beyond one end two adjacent faces of an article a wrapper havthe article andthus forming'aztubular wrapper extension beyond the second side of the article,

tucking those portions of the wrapper extension adjacent the top and bottom 'of the article against the second side to form opposed flaps extending from both faces of the articlewith the portion of the wrapper outside the first slit folded against'said side to leave the flap including the projecting end of the tearing strip with its slon beyond the second side of thearticle, tuckingthose portions of the wrapper extension adjacent the top and bottom of the article against the second side to form opposed flaps extending from both faces of the article with, the portion of the wrapper outside the first slit folded against said side and with a short'slanting fold connecting the adjacent flap withthe wrapper at the I top of the article, and folding and securing said flaps in overlapping relation upon, said sec-- ond side of the article.

9'. A method of forming a wrapped article having a tearing strip located to remove the folded top of the wrapper while leaving the remainder of the wrapper in pouch form on the article,

i which comprises-folding 'adjacent one side and lateral outer-comer outside the tearing strip,

and with the tuck adjacent the oppositeflap folded to bring its lateral outer corner'inside the,

line of the tearing strip, and folding and securing said flaps in overlapping relation upon said second side of the article.

8. A method of forming a wrapped article having a tearing strip located to remove the folded top of the wrapper while leaving theremainder of the wrapper'in pouch form on'the article, which comprises folding adjacent one side and two adjacent faces of an article a wrapper having suflicie'nt marginal excess to form overlapping folds on the opposite side and; on the top and bottom of the article with the excess having a maximum length no greater than the width of said side, top, and bottom, said wrapper having affixed to its inner surface a tearing strip positioned to extend across the first sides and the two faces of the article at a distance from the top 'of the article less than 4 a marginal excess of the wrapper and to project beyond one end of i the wrapper, said wrapper being also formed with a first slit adjacent the projecting end of the tearing strip at one side thereof and between said strip and the adjacent side of the wrapper, said slit extending into the body of the wrapper substantially but not completely throughout its marginal excess, and also having a second and shorter slit adjacent the projecting end of the tearing strip at the other side thereof and extending into the body of the wrapper, folding and securing the wrapper in overlapping folds upon the top and bottom of the article and thus forming a tubular wrapper extentwo adjacent facesof an article a wrapper have ing suflicient marginal excess to form overlap-v ping folds on the opposite side and on the top and bottom of the article with the excess having a maximum length no greater than the width of said sideftop, and bottom, said wrapper having afllxed to its inner surface a tearing strip positioned to extend across the first side and the' two faces of the article at a distance from the a top of the article less than the marginal excess of the wrapper and to project beyond one end of the wrapper, said wrapper being also formed with a first slit adjacent the projecting end of the tearing strip at one side thereof and between said strip and the adjacent side of the wrapper,

said slit extending into the body of the wrapper substantially but not completely throughout its marginal excess and also having a second and shorter slit adjacent the projecting end of the tearing strip atthe other side thereof and extending into the body of the wrapper, folding and securing the wrapper invoverlapping folds upon the top and bottom of the article and thus forming a tubular wrapper extension beyond the second side of the article, tucking those'portions of the wrapper extension adjacent the top and bottom of the article against the second side to form opposed flaps extending from both faces of the article with the portion of the wrapper outside the first slit folded against said side and with a short slanting fold connecting the adjacent flap with the wrapper at the top of the article, folding that flap not including the projecting part of the tearing strip against the second side of the article, and folding and securing the flap including the projecting part of the tearing strip in overlapping relation to the firstfolded flap.

EDWARD F. 'CORNOCK. 

